Capture the best ski holiday photos
The art of capturing the best ski holiday photos
10 top ski photography tips for fantastic pics on the pistes
Whether you have a simple point and shoot camera or a complex DSLR, there are a few golden rules to shooting on the slopes. So grab your camera (or even your mobile phone), set up your subject and get ready to shoot some serious ski action.
Cold climate protection
Modern cameras are usually well protected against the cold, but there are still a few things you can do to prevent moisture damage. If it’s snowing make sure your camera and lenses are covered up or in a waterproof bag. Try not to keep your camera too warm as whipping it out for that once-in-a-lifetime shot will cause condensation on the lens, giving you a foggy image. Camera batteries also lose their charge in cold conditions, so keep any spare batteries inside your jacket.
Beware of exposure
It’s not just exposure to the elements that winter sports photographers have to worry about. The brightness of the snow presents a number of challenges for auto modes, under-exposing the image and giving your landscapes a grey tint. If your camera has scene modes, choose the ‘snow’ or ‘snow/beach’ setting to bring the snow back to a dazzling white.
Change the angle
Whether you’re snapping a group of friends in the après-ski bar or a snowboarder in mid-flight, changing the angle can completely transform your ski photography. Try going low when capturing the action on the slopes, or even tilting the camera to give you another angle. By adding an element of intrigue to your pictures, you’ll keep the attention of your viewers for longer.
Action mode
If your camera has a sport mode, use it. It will give you a faster shutter speed to help you capture the action on the slopes and prevent blur. If you have a DSLR, set it to manual mode to control your own shutter speed. Start with a setting of 1/1000 of a second and adjust as required.
Get close
One of the most common problems for the keen ski snapper is producing shots where the subject is a distant speck on the horizon surrounded by white. Better to get closer to the action and take a few moments to plan your shot. What will the skier or boarder be doing? What piece of action do you actually want to photograph? What’s the best position for you to be in to get the ideal image? Decide what you want then try it a few times to get the best shot.